Shopping bag



Dec. 31, 1929. M, LACKEY 1,741,527

SHOPPING BAG Filed Jan. 31, 1927 UVWf/VTOR fiFERT7L/I KEy ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 31, 1929 PATENT OFFICE ROBERT M. LACKEY, OF WATERFORD, NEW YORK SHOPPING BAG Application filed January 31, 1927. Serial No. 164,772.

Among the principal objects which the present invention has in view are: To provide permanently attached reinforcing carrying handles and locking devices for bags of the character mentioned; to preserve the carrying capacity of bags of the character mentioned, and to avoid contact between the reinforcing member and the contents of the bag, thereby avoiding damage to said contents. v

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the upper portion of a bag constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention, the bag being shown with the closure flap in opened position.

Figure 2 is a fiat side view of the same, the closure flap being shown in closed and locked position.

Figure 3 is a cross section of the upper portion of the bag, the section being taken as on the line 3-3 in Figure 2.

Heretofore bags of the character mentioned have been provided with reinforcing members disposed within the body of the bag. Objections to this form of structure have arisen due to the fact that delicate goods or goods of looser texture have frequently been caught or abraided by the relatively sharp or jagged edges of the reinforcing material.

This objection is obviated by bags constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Heretofore bags of the character herein mentioned have been provided with handles and locking devices therefor so constructed and arranged that the bag has been left partially opened at or adjacent to the locking member with the result that the carrying capacity of the bag has been slightly im paired or diminished. This objection is obviated by bags constructed as herein disclosed.

As seen in the drawings there are two reinforcing patches indicated by the numerals 8 and 9 respectively. The patch 8 is adhered to the flap 10 and the front 11 of the shopping envelopeof which it forms a part. The patch 9 is similarly adhered to the back 12 of the said bag. The patches referred to are employed to reinforce the material of the front and back of the shopping bag where a bail handle and locking members therefor are to be formed. The bail handle referred to is indicated in the drawings by the numeral 13, the same being cut or severed from the flap 10 and patch 8, and leaving thereby a curved or crescent-shaped opening 14 in the said flap and patch. When the flap is turned down over the back 12 and the patch 9 with which the said back is equipped, the said opening is placed opposite the latch 15 which constitutes the locking member referred to for the handle and bag. The latch 15 is provided with barblike extensions 16 which are adapted when the said latch is drawn backward through the opening 14 to thereafter overlie and rest upon the outside of the patch 8, as seen best in Figure 2 of the drawings.

The latch 15 and extensions 16 thereof are severed from the body of the patch 9 prior to the patch being adhered to the bag 12, therefore, the back 12 is not severed at the opening edge of the back in, correspondence with the shape of the latch 15 when the bag is completed. Such is somewhat the construction of bags in present use. The result of such cutting of the patch 9 and the back 12 at the opening edge of the bag is that sharp corners are thereby produced which in service catch the texture of the goods being handled by the shopping bag.

The bail 13 is formed by cutting away the center of the bail to form a finger opening 17 A portion of the material eliminated to form the opening 17 is retained by the bail 13 to be extended therethrough and upturned therearound to form the cushion 18 which serves to avoid the raw edge of the cut paper tgflmake carrying of the bag less disagree- When thus constructed the operation of loading and closing the bag is as follows:

Place contents in the bag; the opening end thereof is spread and the material to be placed therein is inserted as in bags of ordinary construction. It will be noted, however, that no sharp edges are presented to the goods to be caught, torn or otherwise damaged thereby. The goods being thus in stalled, the flap 10 is turned down to closure position and the latch 15 is drawn by the opthe drawings, the raw edge thereof beingv preferably exposed on the front of the bag to avoid contact with the goods being placed or withdrawn from the bag. The bag and contents are now ready to be handled. This is Y done by the purchaser or person carrying the package, placing hisor her finger through the opening 17. With bags thus arranged, it is obvious that several can be carried conveniently on one finger or several fingers of the same hand. I

When it is desired to open the bag, the latch 15 is drawn backward until the extensions 16 may be folded upward so as to insert through the opening 14. The flap is then drawn outward thus avoiding the extension 16 and the open end of the bag may be freely spread to permit the withdrawal of the goods.

Claims: 1. A bag as characterized having a front, a back extending unbroken to the receiving opening of said bag, and a closure flap; a locking device for said bag embodying said flap having an opening therein, and a patch of reinforcing material permanently adhered to the back of said bag adjacent the edge thereof, said patch having a latch formed ex clusive of said back therefrom, said latch having lateral extensions, said latch being adapted to be drawn through said openin and the extensions thereof to overlie sai openings at the outer side of said flap, and a reinforcing patch mounted on said flap at the outer side thereof to surround said opening, said patch extending below the opening edge of said bagfor reinforcing said flap at the folding line thereof.

2. A bag as characterized having a front, a back extending unbroken to the receiving opening of said bag, and a closure flap; a locking device for said bag embodying said flap having an opening therein, and a patchof reinforcing material permanently adhered to the back of said bag adjacent the; edge thereof, said patch having a latch formed exclusive of said back therefrom, said latch having lateral extensions, said latch being adapted to be drawn through said openin and the extensions thereof to overlie sai openings at the outer side of said flap, and a reinforcing patch mounted on said flap at the outer side thereof to surround said opening, said patch extending below the opening edge of said bag for reinforcing said flap at the ROBERT M. LAOKEY, 

